County Executive Recognizes Veterans Service Officer BJ Ganem for His Service to Dane County

January 23, 2013
Carrie Springer, Office of the County Executive 608.267.8823 or cell, 608.843.8858
County Executive

Iraqi War Veteran Led Efforts to Increase Accessibility of County Veterans Service for Local Veterans 
 

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi today recognized Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Sergeant BJ Ganem for his service to Dane County’s residents and veterans community. 

 

Ganem is resigning as VSO at the end of January to pursue a position with the Semper Fi Fund, a non-profit organization that provides immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

 

“I’d like to thank Sergeant BJ Ganem for his efforts on behalf of Dane County’s residents and veterans community,” said Parisi.  “After serving our country with honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Ganem returned home and made serving veterans his passion.  While he will be missed in Dane County government, I have no doubt that our veterans community will continue to be served well by his efforts.” 

 

During his tenure as VSO, Sgt. Ganem led efforts to increase the accessibility of the county’s Veterans Service Office for local veterans. 

 

Sgt. Ganem increased regular one-on-one office hours at locations throughout the county to give more veterans a chance to meet with county VSO staff.  He also created community partnerships that led to regular job, education, and legal clinics for veterans in need of information on how to return to school, the workforce, buy a house, or avoid foreclosure.

 

Technology upgrades, such as a new electronic casework database, helped modernize and streamline record keeping and appointments to help more veterans get the benefits they deserve more quickly.  Sgt. Ganem also implemented a new user-friendly website and Facebook page to further increase communication between the VSO and the county’s veterans community.

 

Deputy Veterans Service Officer, Daniel Connery, will serve as Interim Veterans Service Officer following Sgt. Ganem’s departure.  Dane County will initiate a process to select a new Veterans Service Officer in the coming weeks.

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